School Zone Safety To Be Emphasized By Polk County Firefighters

POLK COUNTY, FL — From Wednesday, Aug. 10, through Friday, Aug. 12, Polk County Fire Rescue personnel will be at school traffic zones throughout the county to help promote school zone safety and remind drivers to slow down.

This week marks the start of yet another school year for many schools throughout Polk County. As more than 100,000 students head to the classroom, there will be a marked increase in pedestrian foot traffic on sidewalks and at street crossings.

To make drivers aware that school traffic zones are back in effect, members of the Polk County Fire Rescue will be stationed at intersections and crosswalks during the morning and afternoon commutes with signs reminding drivers to slow down, said the fire rescue in a news release.

According to fire rescue personnel, some tips for drivers to keep in mind while traveling through school zone crossings include:

• Do not speed in school zones.
• Always obey school zone crossing guards.
• Be aware of the location, active times and speed limit for school zones along your commute.
• Avoid multitasking while driving, including using cell phones or tuning radios.
• Do not pass a stopped school bus, especially when a bus is loading and unloading children traveling to and from school, and what for children crossing streets into their neighborhoods.
• Anticipate anything and everything. Inattentive and excited children often dart out in front of cars without remembering to look first.

Violations in school zones could result in a ticket. But, more importantly, obeying the school safety zone rules could save a child's life, said Polk Fire Rescue.